Improvement in fire-arms



O. vBUSS.

REE-EATING FIREARM.

Patented Apr. 25, 1854.

o pw/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OHARLESBUSS, OF MARLBOROUGH, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT lN FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [0,821, dated April 25,1854.

.To all whom it may concern Be it known thatJ, CHARLES Boss, ofMarlborough, in the county of Cheshire and State of New Hampshire, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Repeating Fire-Arms;

and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described and representedin the following specification and the accompanying drawings, letters,figures, and references thereof.

Of thesaid drawings, Figure 1 denotes a side view of a repeating-pistolconstructed with my improvement. Fig. 2is a transverse section of it,taken through the cam index-wheel of the rotary magazine.-

My repeating fire-arm is cohstructed with a rotary chambered magazine,A, or series of short barrels, to the breech of which a percus-'sion-cap nipple may be applied. Such rotary magazine is to turn freelyon a center-pin, B, (denoted in part by dotted lines,) which extendsthrough the irame O, that connects the stock D andthe main barrel E ofthe fire-arm.

The cock or percussion-hammer is shown at F, the triggerat G, and theguard of the trigger at H. This trigger-guard is confined to the stockat its rear'end only, and by a screw-pin, a, the front end of the guardbeing unattached to the frame, while the trigger-guard is made as aspring, so that its front end shall rest and press upward against astraddler orcatch, I, shaped as seen in Fig. 2. This straddler or catchis made to rest against the periphery of a toothed index or cam wheel,K, which has as many teeth'b b, &c.', as thereare chargechambers withinthe magazine, there being one tooth to each charge-chamber. Each ofthese teeth is to be formed cam shaped, and in such manner that when aperson grasps the magazine betweenthe fingers and thumb of his lefthand, while he holds the fire-arm by his righthand, hevmayobe able-torotate the magazine so as to move each of charge-chambers in successionin line with the main barrel,

the force applied to turn the magazine causing the spring trigger-guardto give way and allow of such rotation. As soon, however, as this forceceases its action the reaction of the spring-guard presses the straddleror catch piece I upward against the index-wheel, and with powersufficient not only to bring achargechamber into line with the barrel,but to hold itthere during the explosion of its charge. By turning themagazine a short distance farther the next charge-chamber of the seriesmay be brought into line with the barrel and held there during adischarge of its contents. Soeach chamber can be operated oninsuccession.

' My improvement consists in so making the trigger-guard, substantiallyas described, that it shall perform two offices-viz, that of guard tothe trigger and spring to press the straddler or index-holder up againstthe magazine.

.In doing this it will be perceived that loan not out-y employ a verypowerful springto hold the magazine in place during a discharge, butsnch's'pring is under the control of the finger which operates thetrigger, so that, if necessary, such spring may be forced downward bysuch finger while the magazine is being turned. Thecam-wheel, being thusr lieved. from strain of the spring, is not so liabl to be worn asitwould he were the whole power of the spring allowed to press on the straler while the magazine was being turned on its 'pin.

What, therefore, 1 claim ist The improvement of making the trigger-"guard so that it shall not only perform the function of a guard to thetrigger, but; that of asprin g to press the straddler orindex-holderagainst the 'catch-wheel, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my

